Transportation

I love having public transportation.  When it works.  Monday was to be my day off, which it was not, but that's ok.  I had a tour scheduled.  I knew one of the girls on the tour, and she and I arranged to meet for a coffee at 11 before the 12:30 start time for the tour.

My morning started with waiting for the delivery of 500 new booklets for our tour from the printer.  I hadn't had an option other than to have them delivered to my house, but what I hadn't thought of was 4 printer-paper boxes full of booklets.  They are still sitting in my hallway, waiting for a place to be found to store them.  After they were delivered, I finished getting ready and headed out the door.  

Avril and I had said we would meet at 11, and I knew it would take me about 45 minutes to get to that particular coffee shop just across the street from the museum.  I left home and walked the half mile to the station.  I walked around the corner and into a mass of people, all staring in dismay at the dreaded whiteboard, announcing a disruption to the Central Line service.  I peeked at the details to see if my route was affected and  yes, the line was closed all the way from my station to Liverpool Street due to a train that stopped working.

I started trying to figure out the fastest way to get to Tottenham Court Road and nothing looked promising.  All required a lot of changes.  Had the line been running well, I would have only been on the tube for 25 minutes.  With a bit of a grumble, I left the station and walked to my high street to see what buses I could take.  Of course, the one bus I needed left the bus stand as I walked up.  And then it started raining again.  

Fortunately, I didn't need to wait to long for my next bus.  I hopped on that and rode it to Stratford, where I waited a few minutes for a train that never arrived.  I switched platforms and managed to get on a National Express train that fortunately went directly to Liverpool Street!  There, I switched back to the Central Line and went the rest of my way on a very crowded train.  Tottenham Court, then up to street level and a quick walk back to the museum.  All in all, I was only twenty minutes late!  

My time with Avril was great, and the group was wonderful.  I had 16 people for the tour.  I don't get nervous about giving tours anymore! I was still exhausted by the time I finished the tour.  

Afterwards I made my way back to Paul and Claire's house for dinner with them before they leave for a few weeks.  On the way home, I saw the travel poster below in the tube station.  It made me laugh and I figured I would share it with you! 

It ended up being a late night and another early start today.  Tomorrow there is another museum tour for quite a large group.  Val and I are thinking we will each have 20 in our group, so I think I need a good night's sleep to have energy to be loud enough!

When I think back over the last six months, I'm amazed at how quickly time has gone by!  The last two have been especially busy.  The next few promise to be so as well.  Even just next two weeks, I will be giving another 4 tours, which end up being an all day event.  At times like this, it's good to remember I have a wonderful source of strength and help!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV